Railroad-switch.



A. M. CALHOUN. RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED mmzz, 1913.

1,1 10,991, Patented Sept. 15,1914.

I I"!!! l NH I 1312": I I I 2 I1 I! l I 1 Q 1 l :llllll i v v f 1M m m F i /2 WIT/M8858. [NI/EH70 JPPLETU/V M OIL/MUM A TTOR/VEV ira-a.

ArrLn'ron-m. minnow, or COLBUS, enoaera...

Specifltation of Letters Fatent.

Patentedfiept; ii5', igil ii.

Application filed January 22, 1913. Serial No. 743,628.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, APPLETON M. CAL- HOUN, a citizen of the United'States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Muscogee and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Railroad-Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in railroad switches, the objects of which are to simplify the structure and reduce the cost. I attain these and other objects by the mechanism delineated in the accompanying draw ing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view with the switch shown open. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view with the switch shown closed, and taken on line A. B. of Fig. 1. Fi 3 is .a sectional view on line C. D. of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, is a detail view of the fastening device 14, 15 and 16.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1.1 are the main rails of a track and switch, with the switch applied in accordance with my invention; 2 is a lead rail which is moved from an open to a closed position and vice versa, by means of tie rods 3, the said tie rods 3 being pivoted at 4, to allow for the angle taken by the said lead rail 2, when the switch is open. The said tie rods 3 are connected to the operating crank shaft 5, by means of connecting rods 6, and crank arms 7, the said connecting rods 6 are provided with turn-buckles 8, for purposes of adjustment, and the said crank arms 7 are made, each with a different radius, to correspond to thevarying distances the said lead rail 2 must be moved at the various points of connection of the said tie rods 3. The said tie rods 3 are extended beyond the connection of the connecting rods 6, to accommodate a stop 10, a resilient member 9, and a jam nut 11; the said stop 10, being let into a recess at the proper point in the cross'tie 13, to hold the said stop 10, in a stationary position, while the said jam nut 11, is allowed to move back and forth against the friction plates 12, to prevent wear and tear on the said crossties 13. The function of the resilient members 9 is to keep the switch closed except when it is opened purposely.

and 16 at each end of the said lever 14, in

such a manner that the switch cannot be opened or closed except by design, neither can the said switch be left partly open, as the resilient members 9, will automatically close same when the said lever 14 is released.

The fulcrum end 19 of the lead rail 2, is provided with binder plates 20, on each side to hold it in exact position, and the said binder plates 20 are so constructed that Washers or liners may be inserted between the said lead rail 2, and the said binder plates 20, for the purpose of taking up any lost motion caused by wear. In both the open and closed positions of the switch, the cross ties where the lead rail 2 moves, are provided with lugs 21, on both sides of the said lead rail 2 to prevent track spreading. The said cross ties 13, are provided with metal friction plates on their top sides and where they come in contact, on their edges, with the jam nut 11 they are also bound with metal.

It is to be understood that I can avail myself of any mechanical equivalents or analogies and make any slight change in the design of my invention without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as my own and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a railroad switch, the combination of a lead rail, a plurality of spring and hand actuated tie rods, connectedtogether so that they are actuated simultaneously and pivot ally secured in the said lead rail, a crank shaft with a plurality of crank arms of different radius, with means for pivotally connecting the said crank arms to the said spring and hand actuated tie rods, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a railroad switch, the combination of cross ties with metal friction plates, main rails, a lead rail, tie rods pivotally connected thereto, means for adjustment of the said tie rods and the said lead rail, a shaft having crank arms of varying radius, adjustable rods connecting the said crank arms to the said tie rods and lead rail, resilient members engaging the said tie rods, means for controlling the tensionof the said resilient In testimony that I claim the foregoing members, megns for conveniently shifting as my. own, I have hereto afiixed my signathe said lead rail .from one position tothe tur'e n-thegresence of two witnesses, other, and means for-locking and releasing PPLETON M. CALHOUN. the said lead rail in amt from the desired Witnesses position, substantially as shown and. de- 'J. MJSA'UNDERB,"

. scribed. ,;F ..A. MANNESCHMIDT. 

